'Spider-Man' ticket holders in limbo

Spring theater parties are hanging by a thread for many ticket holders of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," which postponed Tuesday's much-delayed opening to June 14 and will take April 19 to May 11 off to make major changes to the troubled show.

"Wow, that stinks," said Keena Smith of Aquebogue, who had helped organize a trip for 40 kids, ages 4 to 18, from the East End Homeschoolers to see the show on May 11.

"Man, what a disappointment for the children. It is going to be a logistical nightmare. Will they honor reservations for the following week? And will the same people who booked for this be available another time?" Plans for the May trip had been made in February.

Caryl Goldsmith, who has run her own group sales company for 30 years, says she is in limbo. "And I don't like limbo. We sold a lot of group tickets to 'Spider-Man,' " she said. "So many people have planned their trips to New York, and I don't know if I should find them another show."

The producers announced Wednesday that director Julie Taymor is out of the day-to-day revisions after nine years as creative visionary of the show. A new director and playwright have been hired to try to fix the well-documented problems. Bono and The Edge are writing at least two new songs.

"All my clients are calling, and I don't have answers" said Stephanie Lee, president of Group Sales Box Office, who has sold $1.5 million in tickets to groups for future performances. On Friday, she decided "to personally guarantee refunds to my clients so we can secure tickets for other shows. We have had no guidance from the company, but I will be requesting refunds from them on Monday."

Ticketmaster has been responsive to single-ticket holders, offering refunds to some and exchanges for people who believed they had seats for a finished show.

Goldsmith, asked whether she had ever seen anything like this, answered, "No. Emphatically no."